The Lord Provides!

In our previous newsletter I mentioned our need for a vehicle.  We asked people to pray and give toward a vehicle as they felt led.  Praise the Lord, in just two short weeks God has provided a vehicle for us!  We found out this past weekend someone is giving us a vehicle!  God continues to amaze us as HE provides for us.

If anyone gave specifically toward the vehicle we want to thank you for your generosity, and ask that you rejoice with us in the Lord's provision.  All money given toward the vehicle will be used for ministry in reaching the people of Ecuador for Christ!  Thank You!


"Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!" 
                                                                                          -  1 Chronicles 16:34

One of Ecuador's active volcanos named "Tungurahua",
 letting off a little steam.  The black smoke & ash on top
of the clouds covering the volcano.

Our home here in Ecuador

Some pictures of the inside of our home here in Ecuador. I have always loved seeing the insides of missionaries' homes so we took pictures to share with everyone. Here is the link! :)

Sharing some pictures :)

This is where we live. We  are on the top floor . A very kind widow lives underneath us.

We got a puppy for the kids. She is a french poodle and they named her "Daisy".

Alayna got a cat of her own. Her name is "Ginger".

The view out our kitchen window!

Doing "Nature Study" in the backyard.

These are just a few pictures that we had posted on Facebook but I know not everyone is "on" Facebook so I thought we'd post them here too. More to come as we settle in! :) ~kim

Sipping Water From A Fire Hose

We live on the 2nd floor.

Our first week of language school is complete and after a weekend break where we celebrated the resurrection of our Lord and Savior we have started our second week of language study.  Realizing our child-like state in this endeavor we are mentally exhausted, but press forward.


A fellow student appropiately described the first few weeks of Spanish learning: "It's like trying to sip water from a fire hose."  What an excellent description of how Kim and I both felt this past week.  Eager to learn we began soaking in the language one drop at a time while simultaneously drowning in the vastness of the Spanish vocabulary, gramatical rules, and exceptions coming our way.

 We Praise the Lord for the time and opportunity to concentrate on learning the language, and trust the Lord will use it in us for years to come!  Thank you for your prayers and support during this time of learning.    

Carolyn & Gray in the backyard

      

Lost in Translation

Down the street from our new home in Ecuador is a local pizza shop.  One evening a day or two after moving into our home Alayna and I ventured out for a taste of the local flavor of pizza.  Upon arriving and deciding what we should order, a family size cheese pizza, I began to order entirely in my limited Spanish.

I said, "Uno queso pizza familar por favor."  Right away I knew something was wrong because the pizza man said "no" which I quickly translated into English to mean "no."  However, I did not understand what exactly was "no".  So I said, "Si, solo queso pizza."  The man responded, "no queso."  I then pointed toward the menu where it clearly stated they sold quesso pizza, at which point the man said something very fast and long.  I looked bewildered at Alayna hoping she might I have understood some of what he had said and asked her "What did he say?"  The man then responds, "Oh, you are American I thought you were from Europe or something."  

After a brief laugh over the incident we were able to order in English.  The pizza mans name is Ray.  He is from Ecuador, but lived in the U.S. for 20 years.   Not only did we find a good pizzeria just down the street, but also found a man we can communicate with as we are learning Spanish.  Pray for Ray as we hope to talk with him more in the future. Also, continue to pray for us as we begin full-time language learning on Monday.       

We Come To Go!

It is hard to believe we have only four days left in Memphis before we leave for Ecuador. Excitement fills our hearts as we follow God into this next chapter of our lives, but as we reflect on the past five years our hearts grow sad thinking about leaving so many good friends. Yet, we know everyone who has come to study at Mid-Ameica has indeed Come To Go!

We Come to study, learn, and earn a degree.  We Come learning To Go "to all the world for Jesus sake" that HE might be known and that HE might have preeminence...(Colossians 1:18b).  We cherish our time here at Mid-America, but know that our time has moved from the Coming to the Going, and taking the mighty name of Jesus with us as we Go!

We Came full of pride and reliant on our own abilities. We Go humbled, broken, and reliant on HIS grace!  We Go knowing His grace is sufficient as we learn Spanish, adjust to a new culture, and are given opportunities to share HIS love with many in Ecuador!

Often people have asked: what are you going to do in Ecuador? At which point I generally respond with something like; focus on discipleship, train pastors, and plant churches.  All these are worthy goals for our ministry, but as I reflect on all the Lord has taught us this past year I think now if asked the same question I would simply reply, "yield daily and depend on GOD's grace as we Go."  Pray we do!

Newsletter (February 2012)

• 
  

  A YEAR IN REVIEW

  
  
  February - marked our one-year anniversary with Global Outreach
  
• March: I (Brad) stopped working with the Memphis Police Department
  
• April: sent out 1st newsletter
  
• May: began traveling, speaking at churches and to individuals
  June - August: stayed busy speaking at churches and the Lord blessed our efforts
• September: Kim and I and Gray traveled to Ecuador
  
• October: Brad traveled to Ecuador with Reaching & Teaching for a week of training indigenous pastors
  
• November: Missions fairs at Global Outreach Int. and our home church (Kirby Woods Baptist Church)
  
• December - January: Still speaking some but making
  our final preparations to fly out
  
  

A lot has happened since our last newsletter. Some good and some bad, but in all things we rejoice in the Lord for HE is faithful! In December we found out Kim was expecting again, but sadly on January 26th, just 12 days before we were set to move to Ecuador, we found out our baby (Rose Mercy Savage) did not have a heartbeat and had gone to be with the Lord. We rejoice in the life God gave us even for a short time and know we will meet her in Glory.


A week later Kim began the process of the miscarriage; however, she had
complications and lost a lot of blood. She lost 4 pints of blood and her blood pressure was really low. She was taken to the ER in critical condition. Two pints of blood and
seven IV’s later she began the recovery process. Praise the Lord! She is home resting now, and getting a little stronger every day.


Regarding the financial support needed, the Lord has blessed us and we can leave once Kim regains her strength. Thank you for your continued prayers and support as we move to Ecuador.


Send Donations To:
Global Outreach International
P.O. Box 1
Tupelo, MS 38802
Account # 3377